Alonso at Indy (to Miss Monaco)...

[FLGTFAN]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

I don't think Alonso is finished with F1 yet. But this may have whetted his appetite for 2019 or 2020.

Did you see the grin on his face yesterday? If it wasn't for the 1.5 mile ovals and high-banked roulette, I think he would do it in a minute.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Unless I missed something, the Alonso car is at least partly crewed by the boys & girls at Michael Shank Racing.

Perhaps that could be continued? If interest existed..

Alonso said people from all 6 cars were working on the engine change, prior to qualifying, so quite possibly.

Michael Shank Racing are in partnership with Andretti Autosport, as part of a project to contest the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Le Mans 24 Hour, and Indiy 500. but I didn't think the partnership extended to the rest of the IndyCar season.

[Nikki Katz]

I highly doubt that Alonso will do more than this race, there's not much money in the series, the cars are difficult to get to grips with and the road courses are lotteries due to the closing of the pits when the safety car comes out. Plausibly he could enter the Indy 500 again in subsequent years if he doesn't win, but given the clash with Monaco I'm not convinced about that whilst he's still an F1 driver. Unfortunately it looks like Mercedes and Ferrari aren't interested in him as he's burnt a few too many bridges over the years. I expect that he'll either stay at McLaren or move back to Renault. I imagine they'll both be better than 2017 McLaren, but I don't really expect either to win any races.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by Nikki Katz

I highly doubt that Alonso will do more than this race, there's not much money in the series, the cars are difficult to get to grips with and the road courses are lotteries due to the closing of the pits when the safety car comes out. Plausibly he could enter the Indy 500 again in subsequent years if he doesn't win, but given the clash with Monaco I'm not convinced about that whilst he's still an F1 driver. Unfortunately it looks like Mercedes and Ferrari aren't interested in him as he's burnt a few too many bridges over the years. I expect that he'll either stay at McLaren or move back to Renault. I imagine they'll both be better than 2017 McLaren, but I don't really expect either to win any races.

Might not be much money in it now, but I wonder how much would come in due to his exposure? Wonder if the series would ensure he's compensated enough to do it hoping that exposure brings in more money?

And a "lottery", even though it's not that often it affects things that badly, is still better than "zero chance". He even said at a press conference I think in Australia when asked what he'd like to see in f1, and he said something like equal engines.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Nikki Katz

I highly doubt that Alonso will do more than this race, there's not much money in the series, the cars are difficult to get to grips with and the road courses are lotteries due to the closing of the pits when the safety car comes out. Plausibly he could enter the Indy 500 again in subsequent years if he doesn't win, but given the clash with Monaco I'm not convinced about that whilst he's still an F1 driver. Unfortunately it looks like Mercedes and Ferrari aren't interested in him as he's burnt a few too many bridges over the years. I expect that he'll either stay at McLaren or move back to Renault. I imagine they'll both be better than 2017 McLaren, but I don't really expect either to win any races.

Remuneration might be a problem. IndyCar drivers don't earn anything like their F1 counterparts but I'm sure if Alonso were to race in IndyCar, a suitable package could be arranged.

However, I completely disagree about the cars being difficult to get to grips with. He's shown he's more than capable of getting to grips with the car and on a super speedway, something he's never done before. I'm quite sure he would have no problem on a road or street course. After all, that's what he's been racing on in F1, since he made his debut with Minardi at the Australian Grand Prix, in 2001. What would interesting is to see how he deals with the other ovals on the calendar.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

What would interesting is to see how he deals with the other ovals on the calendar.

Probably as well as Jimmy or Nigel before him....

[fieldodreams79]

I thought he'd struggle with the fact it's Indy and the place is absurd.

Alas, if great racing drivers find four tires and a steering wheel, they know what to do once their ass is in the seat.

He's done so much more than many in a microcosm of time.

I'm more than pleasantly surprised. Let's get through May 28 and go from there.

[Paradise City]

I knew he would get up to speed. 'Specially with all the information share that goes on and that he's half familiar with the scope of the banking from his other life.

But things have been going a bit too well for him I suspect and probably he's due an unfortunate appointment with a wall and will probably spin out due to some mishap with another car. I'll be interested to see how he does with the pitstops.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I knew he would get up to speed. 'Specially with all the information share that goes on and that he's half familiar with the scope of the banking from his other life.

But things have been going a bit too well for him I suspect and probably he's due an unfortunate appointment with a wall and will probably spin out due to some mishap with another car. I'll be interested to see how he does with the pitstops.

Scope of banking? Are you talking about finances or the whopping 9 degrees on the turns?

As far as the pit stops go, if he can handle the 2-3 second F! stops, I'm sure he can handle these slow ones.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I knew he would get up to speed. 'Specially with all the information share that goes on and that he's half familiar with the scope of the banking from his other life.

But things have been going a bit too well for him I suspect and probably he's due an unfortunate appointment with a wall and will probably spin out due to some mishap with another car. I'll be interested to see how he does with the pitstops.

After his first sessions, I saw him doing well, but not this well:

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/14...alonso-500-win

Alonso is the odds on favorite now!

[Adam43]

That's just bookies covering themselves and a reaction to a high number of bets on Alonso as opposed to them assessing his chances.

On pit stops I think he will be fine too. However comedy things can happen in Indycar pit stops.

Do they still hit the refueller with a stick?

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Do they still hit the refueller with a stick?

'Don't know. ('Guess if it's a timed stop)

'Do know it's better than to stick him in a dark place with it.....................

.......

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Adam43

That's just bookies covering themselves and a reaction to a high number of bets on Alonso as opposed to them assessing his chances.

On pit stops I think he will be fine too. However comedy things can happen in Indycar pit stops.

Do they still hit the refueller with a stick?

It still speaks loudly of opinions on how he'll do as opposed to being put down as a long shot.

Indy is one of the tightest pit roads in motorsports and there were all sorts of calamity last year.

And yes, I've seen people whack a fuel man with a stick recently.

[Adam43]

Good, I'd be disappointed if it was any other way

It's a good year since I've watched any live Indycar.

[fieldodreams79]

The quest ends after 179 laps with a blown motor and with the fastest average lap time of the race.

He'll be back now for sure.

Thanks for making this one extra interesting for everyone, Mr. Alonso.

[Adam43]

Wow. He did well. Really well.

He is a proper driver.

[Aysedasi]

Great job. I confess I never doubted he would acquit himself well.

[Lancsbreaker]

Chilton was doing well until very near the end.....fourth still a creditable finish.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Great job. I confess I never doubted he would acquit himself well.

I didn't doubt we would end the Indy month thinking he was top draw, but that was really good.

Get him other cars and series. LMP1, Daytona, Bathurst, Pikes Peak, Birkett relay, the lot.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Wow. He did well. Really well.

He is a proper driver.

Sato? Yup.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by jimclark

Sato? Yup.

Yep I thought that about Sato too. He's shown it before,

[chunterer]

Great job by Alonso. Quite feisty defence at times for oval racing?
However i quite likely that engine blow was the end of the line for Alonso-Honda!

[S griffin]

Shame about that, after thinking going away to Indy would give him a break from the Honda engine breaking

[BobHWS]

A driver with experience driving for a Honda-powered F1 team won the Indy 500 today. No, not Fernando Alonso but Takuma Sato. I took this photo of Sato after the 2007 F1 race in Montreal. Ironically, the photo shows him signing a Fernando Alonso McLaren Mercedes hat.

[bjohnsonsmith]

You've got to take your hat off too Alonso. I really hope he is back next year.